Play device

ABSTRACT

A play device comprising an upright receptacle having a pair of large, opposite and closely spaced sidewalls which are perforated and may be in the shape of a figure or an object. A plurality of small play pieces such as balls small enough to pass through the perforations are packed into the receptacle. The balls are interengaged with each other and the walls of the receptacle and supported in an unstable but equilibrium condition. By altering the support for the balls as by inserting a finger into a perforation to move one or more of the balls, the equilibrium is disturbed, which may cause one or a large number of the balls to be discharged and fall from the receptacle.

ilnited States Patent 3,114,548 12/1963 Taft, Jr.

lnventors Adolph Eddy Goldfarb I 19434 Londelius St., Northridge, Calif.

91324; Rene Soriano, Los Angeles, Calif. Appl. No. 841,473 Filed July 14, 1969 Patented Nov. 2, 1971 Assignee said Goldfarb, by said Soriano PLAY DEVICE 12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 273/1 R, 273/120 R Int. Cl A63f 7/02 Field of Search 273/1, 108, 1 18, 120, 148

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,168,311 2/1965 S'inden 3,387,846 6/1968 Glassetal l.

273/1 R 273/1 RX ABSTRACT: A play device comprising an upright receptacle having a pair of large, opposite and closely spaced sidewalls which are perforated and may be in the shape of a figure or an object. A plurality of small play pieces such as balls small enough to pass through the perforations are packed into the receptacle. The balls are interengaged with each other and the walls of the receptacle and supported in an unstable but equilibrium condition. By altering the support for the balls as by inserting a finger into a perforation to move one or more of the balls, the equilibrium is disturbed, which may cause one or a large number of the balls to be discharged and fall from the receptacle.

PLAY DEVICE Children, as well as adults, love devices which provide action and excitement coupled with suspense and anticipation. It is also desirable to have a device which lends itself to competitive play. A producer of such an item is also concerned with pieces ease and cost of its manufacture, assembly, handling, packaging and shipment.

The present invention contemplates a play device which is extremely simple and economical to produce and which incorporates a high degree of action, suspense and competition for the users or players. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, a number of play pieces, may be closely packed in a receptacle having perforated walls which provides both support for the pieces and the potential for one or a great many of them to be discharged from their packed positions. The players may take turns in altering the support for the packed play pieces to achieve a play object, such as causing the maximum number of play pieces to be so discharged. The supporting receptacle and the play pieces may be configured and proportioned to interengage and intersupport the play pieces both when they are initially packed and after each disruption, while tending to exaggerate and magnify the dislodging of play pieces from the receptacle to intensify the excitement of the device. As a further feature, the play pieces may be randomly disposed and supported and the avenues of egress for them from the receptacle may be so arranged and be sufficient in number to obscure the effect of a player's intended move, thereby maintaining interest and excitement at each turn. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a play device which embodies the present invention in a preferred form thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the play device of FIG. 1, with portions broken away to reveal details of construction.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the packing means of the play device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A preferred form of play device 110 as shown in the drawings includes broadly a supporting receptacle 12 having sidewalls 14 with multiple perforations l6 and a loading opening 17 at the top. A plurality of play pieces such as balls or marbles l8 are adapted to be packed within the supporting receptacle 12 in interengaging and intersupporting relationship, whereby they are supported in an unstable but equilibrium condition within the receptacle. The illustrated play device 10 also includes means in the form of a packing cover or holder 20 which is removably disposed around the receptacle while it is being packed with marbles 18. The packing cover 20 blocks the perforations 16 until the marbles are in their interlocked packed condition. The packing cover is then removed and the engagement of the marbles with one another and with the walls of the receptacle 12, retain the marbles within the receptacle in an unstable equilibrium condition. The marbles are highly unstable in the sense that a change in the support of or the position of any of the marbles can produce widespread random, unpredictable and dramatic shifting of major portions of the body of marbles. This in turn can produce the discharge of a large number of the marbles from the receptacle through the perforations 16. The disruption of the position or the support of the body of marbles may be achieved in a variety of ways: one of the simplest and most economical, and the one to which the illustrated device is particularly adapted, is by merely inserting a finger into the receptacle through one of the perforations to produce movement of the body of marbles. The receptacle may be transparent in whole or part to make its operation further visible. Means for receiving or counting the discharged marbles may also be provided.

Now considering the illustrated structure in further detail, the receptacle 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is constructed of an upstanding perforated packing portion 30 and a base portion 32 on which the packing portion is supported. The packing portion 30 is made up of the two large, flat, opposed and relatively closely spaced sidewalls 14 which are interconnected around their periphery by an edge wall 34. The sidewalls 14 may be formed in various shapes or configurations; in the illustrated device they are in the outline of a head figure. Obviously other characters, animals, objects or the like may be substituted for the head figure configuration. The illustrated packing portion is formed of a clear transparent rigid plastic material. Other material such as wood or metal could also be used. The illustrated packing portion may be conveniently fabricated from two or more sections which are secured together by suitable fasteners, adhesives or the like. The edge wall 34 of the illustrated packing portion is interrupted at the top to provide the loading opening 17 of the receptacle. While the packing portion may be constructed with its own bottom edge wall, it is open in the illustrated structure for reasons which will be explained.

As shown in the drawings, the base portion 32, which may be plastic, has a center section 36, four depending legs 38 and a connecting post or hub 40 which extends upwardly from about the center of the center section. The hub 40 is detachably received in the open lower end of the packing portion 30. The hub may be formed with cutouts 42, 44 at its front and rear edges for respectively receiving rivets or pins 46, 48 which extend transversely across the lower end of the packing portion. The cutouts and pins serve to locate and maintain the packing and base portions relative to one another. The upper edge 50 of the hub thus forms the bottom wall of the receptacle when the portions are assembled. The edge 50 may be inclined toward the front or back to where a lower most perforation is located to permit the last marbles to be discharged from the receptacle. The two receptacle portions may be readily disassembled for packaging, shipment and storage; this permits them to occupy a minimum of space and to be sold in a fiat and compact package.

In the illustrated device, the perforations 16 in the sidewalls 14 are generally circular and are closely spaced, virtually covering the entire sidewalls. As will become more apparent from further discussion of the play pieces, the circular perforations are designed for utilization in particular with balls or spheres such as marbles; however the shapes or configurations of the perforations could be selectively varied as could their size and arrangement. It is preferred that there be a large number of perforations since one desirable aspect of the device is its ability to discharge a relatively large number of play pieces in response to a slight dislocation of the body of marbles or slight change in their support.

Further, the illustrated perforations in the respective sidewalls are arranged opposite to one another so that a finger (or other device) can be passed completely through the receptacle, in one perforation and out the opposite one. Although this last feature is desirable, it is not necessary to the broader aspects of the play device.

The transparency of the packing portion of the receptacle permits the positions of the balls to be observed and the action of the device also to be seen. Some or all of the packing portion might be of an opaque or translucent material if such were preferred. While plastic is convenient and economical material from which to fabricate the receptacle, wood, metal or other materials could be utilized if desired.

Thus, the packing portion 30 is supported on the base portion 32 in an upright position. The base portion 32 also provides a collection channel 52 for receiving the marbles discharged from the packing portion. As shown best in FIG. 1, the packing portion is supported centrally of the base portion with the collection channel 52 surrounding the packing portion so that marbles discharged from that portion through the perforations will fall and be collected in the channel. As shown in FIG. 2, the surface 54 of the channel may be inclined and have a surrounding lip or wall 56 which serves to direct the marbles to a chute 58. The base portion 32 is provided with a slot 60 immediately below the chute 58 for receiving individual player trays 62. In this way each player may collect in his own tray 62 those marbles which are discharged at his turn.

As noted above, the illustrated play pieces are spheres or marbles l8. Spheres of a relatively hard and heavy material such as glass or metal, are particularly good for this play device: the spherical shape affords a highly unstable, mobile and highly reactive body of play pieces; the weight and hardness contributes not only to the rapid and extended response of the play pieces incident to a change in their position or support, but further tends to facilitate interlock and support for starting and intermediate equilibrium positions.

Other configurations approximating a sphere may also be used to advantage, as for example multifaceted cubes or oblong or other globular bodies.

The illustrated means for packing the marbles in the receptacle is the cover or holder which provides a panel 66 to overlay each of the perforated sidewalls and thereby close the perforations during loading of the receptacle. Separate panels 66 might be utilized, or for convenience they may be a single member as shown in the drawing having an interconnecting edge portion 68. The panels 66 are generally positioned as shown in FIG. 1 and are then held against the outsides of the opposite sidewalls 14 while the marbles are inserted into the receptacle through the opening 17. The marbles are stacked or packed in a group or body in the receptacle and since the receptacle is somewhat wider than the average diameter of the marbles, the marbles tend to be jammed against the one sidewall or the other in a mutually supporting and interdependent equilibrium relationship with other marbles and with the walls of the receptacle. Inasmuch as the diameter of the perforations is only slightly larger than that of the marbles, few of the marbles of the packed group will be exactly aligned with one of the perforations after the receptacle is filled and the packing means removed. When the packing means 20 is removed, if any marbles are discharged, the packing means can be replaced and the few discharged marbles put into the receptacle through the loading opening 17.

To play the game, the packing portion 30 is mounted in the upright position on the base portion 32, the marbles 18 are packed into the receptacle 12 and the players may take turns shifting the body of marbles by inserting a finger or a probe member (not shown) into a perforation l6 and thereby shifting marbles aligned with that perforation to a new position. This shifting of some marbles moves and permits movement of other marbles to the end that there may be a great deal of movement and shifting and usually one or more marbles will thereby be discharged from the receptacle through the perforations. While it is possible that the shifting would not result in any marbles being discharged, a chain reaction can be started whereby a large number or avalanche of marbles will come tumbling out ofthe receptacle onto the collection, channel 52 and into the players tray 62. Score may be kept of the number of marbles which are discharged and while the preferred game object is to dislodge the maximum number of marbles per move, this may be selectively varied. For example, it may be desired to minimize the number of marbles discharged, the object may vary depending on the time and sequence of moves, or there may be two or more varieties of shapes or colors of play pieces with the game object being to discharge (or not discharge) one variety and not the other, etc.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A play device comprising:

a receptacle having generally upright walls with a plurality of perforations therethrough; and a plurality of play pieces proportioned for passage through said perforations, said play pieces being disposed in a body within said receptacle in unstable but a mutually supporting and interdependent equilibrium relationship with one another and with the walls of said receptacle;

whereby altering the support of the body of play pieces causes movement of the play pieces relative to the receptacle and effects the random discharge of different numbers of the play pieces from the receptacle through the perforations.

2. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein said play pieces are generally spherical and said perforations are generally circular.

3. A play device as defined ll'l claim 1 wherein said play pieces are glass marbles.

4. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein said play pieces are metallic balls.

5. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle walls include a pair of large opposed sidewalls which are generally flat.

6. A play device as defined in claim 5 wherein said play pieces are generally spherical and said sidewalls are spaced apart by a distance somewhat wider than the average diameter of the play pieces such that the play pieces will jam against the sidewall and each other.

7. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said receptacle is transparent.

8. A play device as defined in claim 5 wherein said sidewalls are formed with a determined outline to represent a figure.

9. A play device as defined in claim 5 in further combination with packing means that comprises a pair of generally flat panels removably disposed immediately outwardly of said sidewalls to block said perforations.

10. A play device as defined in claim 5 wherein said recep' tacle is comprised of a packing portion that includes said sidewalls, and a base portion which detachably supports said packing portion with said sidewalls in an upright position.

11. A play device as defined in claim 10 wherein said base portion includes a collection channel disposed below and outwardly of said sidewalls.

12. A random action play device comprising:

a. a receptacle having a pair of generally fiat, closely spaced and generally parallel upright sidewalls and an access opening at an upper portion of the receptacle, at least a portion of said sidewalls being transparent, said sidewalls each having a plurality of perforations therethrough, which perforations are generally circular;

b. a plurality of generally spherical play pieces proportioned for passage through said perforations, said play pieces being disposed in a body packed within said receptacle in unstable but mutually supporting and interdependent equalibrium relationship with one another and with walls of said receptacle; said receptacle comprising a packing portion which includes said sidewalls and a base portion arranged to releasably support said packing portion in an upright position, said base portion including a collection channel disposed outwardly of said sidewalls for receiving and directing play pieces; and

c. packing means which includes a pair of panels, each of said panels being removably disposed immediately outwardly of one of said sidewalls to block said perforations and prevent said play pieces from passing outwardly therethrough; whereby, when said packing means is removed and an object is inserted into one of the perforations, play pieces are moved and the support of the body of play pieces is altered to cause the random discharge of unpredictably different numbers of the play pieces from the receptacle through the perforations.

at s s s a 

1. A play device comprising: a receptacle having generally upright walls with a plurality of perforations therethrough; and a plurality of play pieces proportioned for passage through said perforations, said play pieces being disposed in a body within said receptacle in unstable but a mutually supporting and interdependent equilibrium relationship with one another and with the walls of said receptacle; whereby altering the support of the body of play pieces causes movement of the play pieces relative to the receptacle and effects the random discharge of different numbers of the play pieces from the receptacle through the perforations.
 2. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein said play pieces are generally spherical and said perforations are generally circular.
 3. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein said play pieces are glass marbles.
 4. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein said play pieces are metallic balls.
 5. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle walls include a pair of large opposed sidewalls which are generally flat.
 6. A play device as defined in claim 5 wherein said play pieces are generally spherical and said sidewalls are spaced apart by a distance somewhat wider than the average diameter of the play pieces such that the play pieces will jam against the sidewall and each other.
 7. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said receptacle is transparent.
 8. A play device as defined in claim 5 wherein said sidewalls are formed with a determined outline to represent a figure.
 9. A play device as defined in claim 5 in further combination with packing means that comprises a pair of generally flat panels removably disposed immediately outwardly of said sidewalls to block said perforations.
 10. A play device as defined in claim 5 wherein said receptacle is comprised of a packing portion that includes said sidewalls, and a base portion which detachably supports said packing portion with said sidewalls in an upright position.
 11. A play device as defined in claim 10 wherein said base portion includes a collection channel disposed below and outwardly of said sidewalls.
 12. A random action play device comprising: a. a receptacle having a pair of generally flat, closely spaced and generally parallel upright sidewalls and an access opening at an upper portion of the receptacle, at least a portion of said sidewalls being transparent, said sidewalls each having a plurality of perforations therethrough, which perforations are generally circular; b. a plurality of generally spherical play pieces proportioned for passage through said perforations, said play pieces being disposed in a body packed within said receptacle in unstable but mutually supporting and interdependent eqUalibrium relationship with one another and with walls of said receptacle; said receptacle comprising a packing portion which includes said sidewalls and a base portion arranged to releasably support said packing portion in an upright position, said base portion including a collection channel disposed outwardly of said sidewalls for receiving and directing play pieces; and c. packing means which includes a pair of panels, each of said panels being removably disposed immediately outwardly of one of said sidewalls to block said perforations and prevent said play pieces from passing outwardly therethrough; whereby, when said packing means is removed and an object is inserted into one of the perforations, play pieces are moved and the support of the body of play pieces is altered to cause the random discharge of unpredictably different numbers of the play pieces from the receptacle through the perforations. 